Fantasy Sports Advice, Analysis and Projections | The Fantasy Fix
Managing Pickups 04/27/2010
 
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Marlon Byrd
Every now and then it’s important to remind yourself that the Fantasy Baseball season is only 3 weeks in, and has about 22 weeks left.  Being prepared with an outline for how you want to use your allotted moves can be very beneficial.  Now….every league is different with their preferences.  Some of mine allow you as little as 5 moves all year, and others up to a max 60. (I realize some leagues allow unlimited pickups, but this article is about management).  Knowing the specifics at the draft is very important, but we are passed that, and it’s a great time for the reminder.  There are 3 times during the season I like to use my moves:

  1. The last week of April.  This is where you begin to see who are the pretenders, and who are poised for a true breakout year.  (Pretender – Garrett Jones) (Poised – Marlon Byrd)
  2. Emergencies.  Unexpected injuries to Star players happen, but this is a golden opportunity to begin to look at players who you may have been neglecting because of the talent ahead of them.(Injury – Aaron Hill) (Surprise – Kelly Johnson)
  3. Fantasy Playoffs.  Read your league’s rules carefully for this one.  If you are allowed to make moves in the playoffs than it’s extremely important to put a few moves a side.  Grabbing that extra win, or a few more strikeouts, or that young speedster for some SBs.  These moves can be critical in making it to the next round, or raising your championship trophy.
Keep in mind that there are many different fantasy formats.  For your specific situation, or any fantasy question at all refer to the Quick Fix LINK for FREE individualized expert advice.


Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Sports Blog, Garrett Jones, Pittsburgh Pirates, Marlon Byrd, Chicago Cubs, Aaron Hill, Toronto Blue Jays, Kelly Johnson, Arizona Diamondbacks, Fantasy Mechanic

 
Juan "Not" Gone 04/22/2010
 
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Juan Uribe
In every single league I am in my main focus is to make sure I have every single position filled with a productive player.  Once I’ve accomplished this I allow myself only 1 extra batter.  It’s my goal to do whatever I can to get the best utility player available, either through trade or the waiver wire.  Last year Brandon Inge (C, 3B, OF) filled that spot while providing 27 HR & 84 RBI.  This year, that must have player is:

Juan Uribe (2B, 3B, SS)

Yahoo 56%      ESPN 60.5%   CBSsportsline 50%

Last year he was a 2nd half All Star, while helping to almost power the Giants to the playoffs (12 HR & 35 RBI).  The numbers may not look monstrous, but for what he provides that is more than adequate.  This year he as picked up where he left of and then some.  Starting 2010 he’s hitting .321 with 10R-2HR-11RBIs.  The way things are going he may play his way into your starting lineup.

Look to follow this strategy, it will free up an extra spot or 2 for your pitching staff.  Pitching wins championships.  You will be able to store that extra SP you’re not sure about, or allow you to grab that interim closer for a couple of extra saves.

Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Sports Blog, San Francisco Giants, Juan Uribe, Fantasy Mechanic

 
 
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Well????Fantasy owners love to use the “What have you done for me lately” approach to management of their teams.  So, how can you use that to your advantage?  In no other month will you see statistics that truly overvalue, and under appreciate scrubs and stars.   For example:   35 players are batting over .333 (15 of which are hitting .360 or better).  Obviously this type of production is not sustainable.  Yet you would be surprised how many owners in your leagues look at these numbers and think just that.  Essentially they gamble, but fantasy baseball championships are won with calculated decision making. Who to look for, and who to trade:
  1. Scott Podsednik
  2. Ivan Rodriguez
  3. Martin Prado
  4. Franklin Gutierrez
  5. Casey McGehee
Above represents 5 of the top 6 MLB batting average leaders through Tuesday.  Also, the first 5 players who should be traded this week.Try to steal:
  1. MarkTeixeira  / Prince Fielder (Obviously, always worth a try)
  2. Ian Kinsler / Jacoby Ellsbury(The wounded antelopes)
  3. Adam Dunn (Model of Consistency)
  4. Adam Jones  (Serious Young Talent)
  5. Jose Lopez (Versatile and Consistent)
This should get you started on the right path, but dig deeper and you may find some even nicer deals.

Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Sports, Fantasy Sports Blog, Fantasy Mechanic, Adam Dunn, Cincinnati Reds
 
April Playoffs 04/19/2010
 
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It’s not the moves at the end of the season that will keep you playing in September (Fantasy’s October Baseball).  Just like the stock market, people make adds and drops early on because of emotion, and not logic.  In many of your leagues this jockeying has probably already started.  People get overexcited and grab the next hot thing off the waiver wire.  Sound familiar? 

* Jose Guillen, Alex Gonzalez, Scott Podsednik, etc. 

The Law of Averages is one thing you can count on in baseball.  There are certain things you can come to expect from certain players, year in and year out.  Yet every year some of the most consistently productive players end up cut halfway through April.   For example, in one of my leagues Nick Swisher, and Paul Konerko both just got cut for their April baby slumps.  These are 28-30 HR potential guys on good teams with lots of protection.   They may not have the sexy names like you see in the first round, but you can count on the returns they will provide.    Try to look for Veterans 28 – 34 years old who averaged approximately 500 ABs in the last 3 seasons, and who performed consistently above average.  Finding this type of value early on will take a lot of the stress off in late July.

Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Sports Blog, Kansas City Royals, Jose Guillen, The Fantasy Mechanic